Kannauj The Fragrance City
Kannauj Perfume, also known as Kannauj Ittar, is a traditional Indian perfume manufacture. The perfume production is popular in Kannauj, in the Uttar Pradesh state, India.
It has been protected under the Geographical indication (GI) of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement. It is listed at item 157 as "Kannauj Perfume" of the GI Act 1999 of the Government of India with registration confirmed by the Controller General of Patents Designs and Trademarks.
Kannauj perfume has a long historical background and Kannauj had perfume trading for thousands of years. Due to the key role of perfume production in Kannauj, the city is known as "the perfume capital of India" and "Kannauj is to India what Grasse is to France". An expert in the region says, "Kannauj has been the perfumery town of the country for thousands of years".
The attar manufacture skill passed through generation to generation. When a craftsman explains about their family involvement in this industry, he says "My family has been working in this field since three centuries and my son is the 30th generation".
They make from flowers and natural resources. Also musk, camphor, saffron and other aromatic substances are used for production. Flower like white jasmine and plant like vetiver use for summer varieties while soil uses for monsoon variety, known as Mitti attar that gives the scent of wet earth. Heena attar and musk attar are winter varieties.
The natural perfume is free of alcohol and chemical, except for some productions. Fragrant attar from rose has more smell while attar that made from sandalwood oil has lasting smell. Normally for production a small bottle of scent, it needs about 15 days.
Equipment Used for Traditional Attar Making :
The production of attar oils for floral is usually performed in remote areas as flowers are required to be processed at the earliest after they are plucked away from plants. The apparatus & equipments used for producing various types of attar oils are light and efficient. Blow listed are the details of equipments that are typically used for traditional attar making:
- Traditional Deg or Still:
The process is carried out in copper stills which are also referred as “Degs”. From centuries degs have played a critical role in producing organic fragrance oils using traditional ways. Degs are made of copper metal and have opening for connections to one or two receivers.
- Bhapka or Receiver:
The Bhapka, also called “receiver” is built of copper and contains round shape with long neck. During the process of making attar the receiver is required to be connected with Deg via Chonga. It is popular as Bhapka in local language and it acts as condenser as well.
- Traditional Bhatti or Furnace:
Traditional bhatti that are used by attar craftsman is built up of bricks and clay. Typically wood or coal is used for heating during the process.
- Gachchi or cooling water tank:
A cooling water tank is the place where Bhapka, or receiver is kept and its purpose is to cooling the distillate from Deg.
- Kuppi or leather bottle:
Kuppi are the bottle made from leather of animals. These bottles are used to remove moisture from attars.
Usage & Application of Attar:
Attar oils have a comprehensive range of applications and usage. Each attar oil carries its own unique fragrance & features, likewise they have different usage. Some of the attar oils are used in various products while some are directly applied on body as scents. Besides these, there are various attar oils & essential oils that are helpful in healthcare and their unique fragrance help healing body and strengthening mind.
